Hairstyles for a Child Pageant

Simple hairstyles make styling less uncomfortable for younger children.

A children's pageant lets you showcase your daughter's beauty, talent and poise. Judges consider several areas when scoring your daughter's appearance, including hair, make-up and attire. Expectations differ by pageant type, however, glitz pageants encourage synthetic additions, such as hair extensions and fake eyelashes, and natural pageants prohibit the use of such artificial enhancements. To be competitive, your daughter's hairstyle must follow pageant guidelines while maximizing her beauty.

Fountain of Curls

The Fountain of Curls is a basic hairstyle that works for both natural and glitz pageants. Your daughter's hair starts in a traditional high ponytail. A narrow-barrel curling iron gives the ponytail dozens of corkscrew curls. Pin groups of two or three curls one inch outside her ponytail hair elastic in a circle. Hairpins secure these curl clusters to her scalp making her ponytail look like a fountain of dazzling ringlets. Make this style more ornate by adding a hair extension of corkscrew curls to her ponytail before securing the ringlets to her head with hair pins.

Swoop Barrette

Little girls who aren't enthusiastic about sitting still for long periods will enjoy wearing this traditional, age-appropriate hairstyle. Brush a few shots of body-enhancing spray throughout her hair before creating a definitive side-part. The end of comb helps create a properly straight part with 70 percent of her hair on the left side of the part and 30 percent on the right. Sweep the left side hair, currently hanging over her eyes, up to her forehead and secure it a few inches above her left ear with a decorative barrette. Apply a few shots of hairspray around the the barrette so the hair doesn't fall out or become frizzy.

Half-Braid

The half-braid makes an elegant, age-appropriate hairstyle for girls competing in a natural pageants between the ages of six and 10 years. Start with a horizontal part that arches between either ear like a headband. Gather the hair above the horizontal part into your hand, divide it three ways equally and begin braiding. The braid starts just above the horizontal part and continues behind her head until only three inches of unbraided hair remains. Tightly secure the end of her half-braid with a non-rubber hair elastic. A ribbon tied in a bow around the hair elastic gives this style a polished look.

Diagonal Cascade

A diagonal cascade is best suited for glitz pageants where judges allow and encourage hair extensions. Begin with a basic side ponytail secured high on the head, approximately three inches above her left ear. Turn her side ponytail into several tightly coiled locks using a curling iron. Hairpins secure the coiled curls in a diagonal line so the ponytail appears to start above her left ear and end on the right of her neck nape. Slide a hair extension of coiled curls into her scalp directly behind her natural diagonal ponytail following the same diagonal angle. Pin the extension pairs of curls a few inches above her neck nape. Spray flexible hairspray on the top and back of her head to prevent loose wisps. Clip a few delicate barrettes above and behind her diagonal cascade.

References

• The Pageant Expert: The Differences Between Glitz and Natural Pageants
• Little Girl Hairstyles: Pageant Hairstyles